Multi-purpose coffee maker pod holder

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose beverage pod holder for a beverage brewing apparatus is disclosed comprising a flange adapted to be received in a slot in the brewing apparatus, a screen disposed orthogonal with the flange for allowing fluid to pass therein through, a first cylindrical wall encircling the screen on a first surface of the pod holder, the first cylindrical wall having a first diameter and defining a first packet retainer, and a second cylindrical wall encircling the screen on an opposite surface of the pod holder, the second cylindrical wall having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter and defining a second packet retainer. The pod holder can be used to brew both espresso and coffee in the same machine depending upon the orientation of the pod holder.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/773,065, filed Mar. 5, 2013, the contents of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

High capacity coffee brewing apparatus are well known in manyindustries, including the restaurant business, the hospitality areas ofhotels, and the airline industry. These machines are typically bulky andrequire a source of electricity and water to brew fresh coffee. Highcapacity coffee brewers generate and store hot water in a reserve tankfor ready use, and thus include heating equipment as well as theelectronics for operating the heating coils, water temperature, and thelike. For this reason, these coffee brewing machines take up a greatdeal of work space in a kitchen or galley.

The rise in popularity of espresso drinks had made it necessary forairlines, restaurants, and other coffee serving businesses to alsoinclude an espresso machine in the work space as well as a coffeebrewing machine. Typically these two machines are placed side-by-side,and use the same supply of water and electricity, but double the amountof counter space needed. Espresso is made by a similar, but not exact,process as is used for coffee, where different pressures, temperatures,and beans are used for espresso. In kitchen areas, especially anaircraft galley, the use of two machines doubles the weight and reducesthe available space by half. The present invention addresses thisshortcoming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a brew pod holder for a high capacity coffeebrewing apparatus that can be used to brew either coffee or espresso inthe same brewing machine, and thus convert a coffee brewing machine to adual coffee/espresso brewing machine. The brew pod holder includes afirst basket on one side for retaining pre-packed ground coffee packets,and on the reverse side of the pod holder is a different sized basketthat is used for espresso pods. The brew pod holder can be inverted inthe coffee/espresso maker to allow either beverage to be brewed in thesame brewing machine. The brew pod holder of the present invention canbe formed with a key, tag, or some indicator that can be read (eithermechanically, magnetically, or electronically) by the brewing machine toindicate the present orientation of the pod holder in the brewingmachine, which in turn indicates the type of beverage that is beingprepared, allowing the brewing apparatus to automatically apply thecorrect pressure, temperature, and brewing times for the desiredbeverage.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate, by way of example, the operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated, perspective view of a beverage brewing machine ofthe type that uses the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of the coffee brewing side of the brewcup of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is a perspective view of the espresso brewing side of the brewcup of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an elevated, partially exploded view of the beverage brewingmachine of FIG. 1 with the brewing cup extracted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a coffee maker apparatus 50 of the type that canbenefit from the present invention. The coffee maker 50 includes a mainhousing 5 and a tank assembly 1 that are used to store the electronicsand the heated water, respectively, needed to brew the desired beverage.In this particular brewing apparatus, a platen 3 is situated below aport through which the brewed beverage is dispensed, where the platen 3locates a mug, coffee cup, or coffee decanter. An optional froth maker 2is positioned adjacent the platen 3 for adding froth or faom to abeverage such as cappuccino. The brewing apparatus 50 includes variouscontrols such as buttons 60 for operating the machine, including a“power” button, an “espresso” button, a “coffee” button, a hot “water”button, a “Lungo” button, a “cappuccino” button, and an “extra froth”button. The multipurpose brewing apparatus 50 is able to receive theinput commands via the buttons 60 and perform the requested operationsusing a microprocessor and logic within the housing 5. Centrallydisposed within the arrangement of the brewing apparatus is a pod holder4 for aligning the coffee packets or espresso pods under the hot waterfor brewing.

FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b illustrate opposite sides of the same brew podholder 4 of the present invention. FIG. 2 a shows the pod holder 4 witha coffee brewing side exposed. An annular rim 25 defines a coffee packetretainer surrounding a brew screen 27 onto which a prepackaged coffeegrounds packet is placed. The screen 27 includes a plurality of fineholes 30 through which the brewed coffee passes. The brew pod holder 4includes a flange 40 that can be used to manually insert and extract thebrew pod holder 4 from the brewing apparatus 50. FIG. 2 b shows theespresso packet retainer 55 on the opposite side of the brew pod holder4. The smaller espresso retainer 55 is formed by a thicker circularridge 35 that is sized for smaller espresso pods. Prepackaged espressopods fit inside of the espresso retainer 55 and drain through the samescreen holes 30 as the described above with respect to the coffee. Thepod holder 4 can also include visual and/or electronic indicators 60located on the wall 75 that supports the coffee packet and espressoretainers 27,55. The indicators 60 can be pod holder orientationindicators that allow the brewing apparatus 50 to determine whether thecoffee or espresso option has been selected.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the brewing apparatus 50 with thebrew pod holder 4 removed from its slot 88. The tank assembly 1 isdisposed within the housing 5, and platen 3 is positioned below thecoffee outlet to hold hot cups and allow for drainage of any spilledbeverage. The brew pod holder 4 is inserted in slot 88 directly belowthe supply of hot water, and may be held in place by a pod securingmechanism such as a pivoting release 80 that opens and closes to lockthe pod holder in place like a clamp. Once inserted, the back of theflange 40 of the brew pod holder 4 is flush against the outer wall 78 ofthe brew pod holder enclosure 85 so as to position the coffee grounds orespresso grounds directly beneath the hot water outlet regardless of theorientation of the brew pod holder. Depending on the orientation of thepod holder assembly 4, either espresso or coffee is be brewed by thebrewing apparatus 50.

In a first preferred embodiment, the indicator 60 on the pod assembly 4is read by the coffee brewer, either magnetically, mechanically, orelectronically, so as to automatically detect the orientation of thebrew pod holder assembly. For example, the poles of a magnetic can beread so as to determine whether the coffee option or espresso option isselected. The indicator can also be shaped-recognized, or have a solidsurface and a void that can be determined by the brewing apparatusautomatically when placed in the slot 88. Alternatively, the user cansimply press the desired buttons 60 on the control panel 62, such as“coffee” or “espresso,” and the machine 50 will perform the brewingoperation according to that instruction. Yet another preferredembodiment, the user control panel will illuminate the permissibleoptions based on the position of the brew pod holder 4 and the frothmodule 2.

In operation, the pivoting release member 80 is raised and the brew podholder 4 is removed from the brewing apparatus 50. The flange 40preferably includes a necked portion 92 that is adapted to receive thepivoting release member's end portion 94 to lock the pod holder 4 inplace. An espresso pod having a diameter between about 44 and 45millimeters in diameter is placed inside the espresso packet retainer55, and the brew pod holder 4 is reinserted into the enclosure 85. Therelease member 80 is then closed to lock the pod holder 4 in place. Abutton on the control panel 62 may illuminate indicating that acappuccino or espresso drink can be brewed in this configuration. Theuser may then select either the cappuccino or espresso option, whichcauses heated steam at the correct pressure and temperature to be forcedthrough the espresso pod held in the pod holder 4. The brewed beverageis then collected in a decanter or a mug placed on the platen 3, whichcan then be served to a customer or passenger. The release member 80 isthen pivoted opened and the pod holder 4 is extracted to discard thespent espresso pod, and the brewing apparatus is ready for a new cycle.To brew a coffee beverage, the procedure is repeated, except the podholder 4 is turned over and a coffee packet is placed inside the largercoffee packet retainer 27 on the opposite side designated for coffee.The handle 80 is then closed down and the coffee light will beilluminated on the control panel 62. Once the coffee is completelybrewed, release member 80 can be opened, the pod holder 4 can beextracted, and the coffee grounds can be discarded to ready the brewingapparatus for a new cycle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms ofthe invention have been illustrated and described, various modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limitedbut rather all modifications and substitutions that would be recognizedby one of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be included in thescope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A multi-purpose beverage pod holder for a beverage brewingapparatus, comprising: a flange adapted to be received in a slot in thebrewing apparatus; a screen disposed orthogonal with the flange forallowing fluid to pass therein through; a first cylindrical wallencircling the screen on a first surface of the pod holder, the firstcylindrical wall having a first diameter and defining a first packetretainer; and a second cylindrical wall encircling the screen on anopposite surface of the pod holder, the second cylindrical wall having asecond diameter that is larger than the first diameter and defining asecond packet retainer.
 2. The multi-purpose beverage pod holder ofclaim 1, further comprising an indicator for indicating an orientationof the first packet retainer and the second packet retainer.
 3. Themulti-purpose beverage pod holder of claim 2, wherein the indicator is avisual indictor.
 4. The multi-purpose beverage pod holder of claim 2,wherein the indicator is a magnetic indictor.
 5. The multi-purposebeverage pod holder of claim 2, wherein the indicator is a shapedetermining indictor.
 6. The multi-purpose beverage pod holder of claim2, wherein the indicator is a contact-dependent indictor.
 7. Themulti-purpose beverage pod holder of claim 1, wherein the flange isshaped to receive a release member along a middle portion thereof. 8.The multi-purpose beverage pod holder of claim 7, wherein the flangeincludes a neck portion that receives the release member.